Wind energy causing health fears

Interesting story... but anyway we know that everything have side-effects. I think that wind energy is a great idea, and in Spain where i've been, wind turbines have been built outside the proximity areas of habitants, and no one have health problem. It's a simple planning problem... And wind turbines are just like any other factory.

Yes, and I bet living next to a nuclear power station makes you glow in the dark, grow an extra head and influence compasses.

I took one of the pictures fetured and it looks like the girl in blue (my daughter) is covering her ears, this is misleading as she is actually pulling her hood up because it had just started raining.

We have a local wind farm (pictured) and we love it. It's beautiful, quiet, let me say that again, it is quiet and does nothing but make a positive impact on the environment. There are no piles of dead birds underneath them, sheep happily graze around them and the locals all seem a cheerful and friendly as they have ever been. Or is it just me and they've all gone mad through sleep deprivation.

It is a good idea to remain skeptical about such findings. Especially when it says "X wrote a book" instead of "X published a research paper".

Only a controlled study is a reliable way to determine actual health effects. A sampling of 10 families in one location is not credible IMO.

It is quite easy to make some quick money based on vague fears or by providing fodder for the propaganda mills of those who are opposed to wind energy for various non health related reasons.

The family described in the article is obviously primarily concerned about the scenic view they are loosing and the loss of property value they expect. They are concerned about potential headaches, but it does not say that they are actually affected.

A windmill on a Batic sea shore in Kaliningrad region, Russia.

themactep has contributed a photo to this story.

Taken at the Rothes Windfarm, at Cairn Uish near Elgin is the first windfarm consented by Scottish Ministers under the devolved powers of section 36 of the Electricity Act. It will provide enough power to meet around 29 per cent of Moray's total demand for electricity, the equivalent to the average annual consumption of 32,000 households.

Paul Henderson has contributed a photo to this story.

This photo was taken from the top of Mt. Scott near Lawton, OK. There is a large wind turbine farm there, as you see. Although we did not go there, I am fascinated by the power of these turbines. I dont know if I agree that these are more of a health risk than electricity obtained with the power plants we use now and I really dont see how they could be worse. I live in Oklahoma and I feel that although we are a big supplier of oil and natural gas that we have the resource of the wind also and why not use it for a cleaner alternative to drilling and destroying the land. As Americans we destroy and waste so much in search of better living and saving money (or making money in some cases) that is really isnt worth the price our future generations have to endure. I think an alternative fuel source is a great idea, I just hope we make the right decisions whatever that may be.

mgunter has contributed a photo to this story.

Thank you for the opportunity to have a voice.  This is out of my comfort zone really, but I am glad to contribute something.  Mgunter~~Oklahoma

These wind turbines in my submitted photo are located on Route 219 near Thomas, West Virginia. There are quite a few that line the ridges around there and their shear size and magnitude is pretty stunning. There isn't much developed around them thankfully, now considering the possible health concerns. We need to keep fighting for cleaner alternate energy sources. Check out http://www.hatchcraft.com to view more of my photo work.

HatchCraft.com has contributed a photo to this story.

First of all: whenever you read a study you have to know who was the sponsor of that study!

It is also said that the periodic shadows from the rotor causes serious health troubles.

But even if all this concerns are reasonable, there should always be the possibility for remote wind farms or offshore wind parks. The higher losses of power over long distances can be more than compensated with new technology like HVDC (high voltage direct current).

Here a few examples for population densities:

Australia:7 per sq. mi.

Canada: 9 per sq. mi.

Germany: 610 per sq. mi.

U. S. A.: 83 per sq. mi. average, New Jersey 1,134, California 217, Montana 6

Figures 2000

So, serious surveys should not be used as arguments against wind power, but as arguments to use it deliberate, like we should do it with every technology.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2657703770_806b64bbb7_b.jpg

With over three hundred million people now and a projected 400 million not all that far down the road. It will become harder to set aside land to build these wind machines and at the same time protect people from their effects. (If this research proves conclusive.)  Maybe the research will establish a safe minimum distance and safe zones could be set aside. These areas could be as green as possible. (Not knowing what effect these sounds have on plants and animals, yet.)

All new energy sources are going to come with some trade-offs. We will just have to figure out way to implement them with minimal risk.

The wind turbines featured in my photo are just a few of the many located on and around Indian Mesa, a mostly unpopulated region just E of Fort Stockton, in the vast deserts of West Texas.

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Very interesting article, JeffHuang.

I've always been intrigued by the idea of wind power as an alternate energy source, but had never heard of any potential health concerns from the turbines. While I do support wind energy as a green energy resource, perhaps in the future the wind power companies should make sure they "build responsibly" i.e. away from populated areas...

capella_7009 has contributed a photo to this story.

Windfarm in western Minnesota, USA

There apparently are concerns over wind turbine noise causing headaches and sleeplessness. Even if thats true, I think those problems can be more easily dealt with than huge energy costs, poluted air, and global warming associated with fossil fuels.

Just don't put the turbines near your house.

JGH52 has contributed a photo to this story.

I took this photo in France.

yoriko has contributed a photo to this story.

Since Wind Turbine Syndrome is so new, why not bring it to attention while it's still young. Let's come up with a solution before it becomes widespread. Bringing this to light now will give the wind farm producers a chance to correct this before it becomes too extensive and expensive.

I read about an effort to reduce the noise factor of wind turbines (http://www.dailytech.com/New+Anti+Noise+Addons+Silence+Noisy+Wind+Turbines/article12641.htm)

I do hope this includes the low-frequency noise mentioned in your report.

fleas2016 has contributed a photo to this story.

Photo of a windmill farm in western Kansas.

yourstilllife has contributed a photo to this story.

It was intense. I pulled off the road and there was this white monster, towering over me and threatening the foundations of the heavens, no less! It peered down at me down his long, cold nose and was like, "What." Then I was like "I'm gonna take your photo, vile beast!" And he was like, "No, you're not." Then I was like, "You can't stop me, you can't even move! Except for your head and you can only rotate." Then he was like, "You have beaten me, ill devil! I shall battle you in the afterlife of yore!" Then I ran home and posted this photo on the internets.

modernmuseum has contributed a photo to this story.

Palm Springs - Wind Turbine Generators

anna@germany has contributed a photo to this story.

Hull Wind 1.
The Town of Hull, Massachusetts, has won the Department of Energy's Wind Power Pioneer Award. The distinction recognizes the Town of Hull for its outstanding leadership in advancing the use of wind power in a coastal community. Hull has been "a model for engaging the entire community to understand and move forward together on its wind power project, from school teachers, utility engineers and local leaders to state government, academia and industry."

boston_denyba has contributed a photo to this story.

Remind me again, please. I seem to have forgotten. What are the health consequences of coal fired power plants? Everything in life involves risk. Unless someone can point to an article in a peer reviewed journal that elaborates on this or posits a theory about this, I'll have to reserve judgement. Until then, we should proceed with caution but proceed nonetheless.

Why is it better to site industrial wind turbines on rural mountain tops with minimal population. Are these peoples lives less important? In fact, the noise from these monsters are intensified in the rural areas especially at night. People live in these areas to escape the noise of the cities, to raise families in the quiet of the mountains, to enjoy life at its simplest. Another devastating effect is the vast deforestation, when in fact, this actually encourages global warming. You may not realize that in 20 years or less, there will be NO natural forests or mountain tops left if this destruction continues. The very ecosystems that guard against global warming will be destroyed forever.The whole issue is proper siting. Brown fields are ideal. Or better yet, since it seems that the "city" folk are the ones that are so "thrilled" by these industrial giants, they should be installed in the mall parking lots where the noise will not be noticed, and the city folks will not have to travel to the mountains to gawk and marvel at the machines that are making the lives of the rural residents so miserable. I am not against wind energy, as I do believe it has its place in the energy problem, but it by no means is the sole answer. It simply is not a reliable and consistent source of energy. Don't forget, it takes electricity to turn the tubines in the first place. In a power outage, these are useless. Also the electricity generated from these are far more expensive. Wind energy needs to be thought out carefully and sited properly. And NOT at the expense of anyone's right to peaceful  and healthy living.